« Ind. Decisions - Court of Appeals issues 4 today (and 5 NFP) | Main | Ind. Decisions - Judge rules in Terre Haute mayoral Hatch Act challenge »
Friday, December 21, 2007
Ind. Courts - "Gary judge loses consulting contract with county"
Bill Dolan reports in the NWI Times today:
CROWN POINT | Gary attorney Deidre Monroe became the latest lawyer to lose a consulting contract in Lake County government in a crackdown on double dipping.The Lake County Board of Commissioners voted this week to refuse Monroe a contract that would have paid her as much as $12,000 in 2008 to provide legal advice for county Recorder Michael Brown.
Brown said Friday he will talk with commissioners to see if they will reconsider funding Monroe, who has worked in his office for several years.
"She has been working with me to investigate people who are filing bogus deeds to get homestead credits," Brown said. "This is a very serious problem, and I need her help."
Commissioner Fran DuPey, D-Hammond, said commissioners are cracking down on county employees who get extra pay by becoming consultants in addition to their county jobs.
Commissioners also refused to renew consulting contracts for four Lake Criminal Court public defenders recently who also work as public defenders in different county courts.
Monroe is listed as a public defender in the county's juvenile court, earning a salary of $28,000 per year. She also serves as Gary city judge.
Brown said he previously had an agreement with commissioners that he would pay Monroe out of user fees he charges those who record documents in his office.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 21, 2007 01:54 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts